Forks Considers Garbage Collection by Robotic Arms

Those yellow recycling cans that residents put out on their curb each week could be soon considered garbage themselves.

Raritan Valley, Forks Township's garbage hauler, made a pitch to the last week to consider upgrading its trash collection system.

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Township Finance Director Jim Farley said that Raritan Valley was interested in discussing a "new method of trash retrieval" in which garbage is collected utilizing carts and robotic arms in an automated system.

Neighboring is pondering a similar switch.

"We're not asking Forks to be a guinea pig," said Ken Anderson of Raritan Valley. "This has been tested and tried. We have a vision of bringing as much efficiency and the latest technology to the township."

Anderson said that a pilot program was tried in Montgomery County and that Upper Macungie and South Whitehall townships are on board.

Anderson said he would provide Forks officials with a video of the operation and could arrange to have a six-week trial program set up somewhere in the township so Forks officials could get a firsthand account of how the system works.

He said the carts that would be used are heavy molded plastic carts with a wheel and a lid affixed to the cart. The carts are usually two types: 64 gallons and 96 gallons.

Anderson estimated costs per cart at between $40 and $50.

Supervisors asked whether one container could handle everything and Anderson responded that carts would be needed for garbage, unless it was composted.

Supervisor Robert Egolf wondered why a recycling container was needed when the township already uses yellow cans. Anderson said the bigger carts would encourage more recycling.

Farley stated that the township might be able to secure some state Department of Environmental Protection grants if it boosts recycling efforts.

Supervisors Chairman Erik Chuss said it seems like the current trend is for everyone to go toward automated garbage collection. He asked Anderson for Raritan Valley to come up with costs and return to the board with a proposal for consideration.